The Crimson Kimono

Did she have a Japanese boyfriend?

I told you, I never mixed in her personal business.

What'd you have against her?

Who said I had anything against her?

She was shifty as smoke, but I liked her.

Then why didn't you try and stop him when he went for her with a gun?

I didn't like her that much.

But you got a good look at him, didn't you?

Not good enough to recognize him.

You're worried already?

Well, sure. Who wants to stick his neck out identifying somebody?

This Romeo she's been seeing on the QT, why the big secret?

I told you. I was her manager, not her wet nurse.

We all knew she was making time with some guy.

Why she wanted to keep him under wraps, who knows? Who cares?

This Oriental artwork belonged to her or to the house?

It's all Sugar's, all of it. Or was.

Research for the Crimson Kimono, the new act she was working on.

Will you fill us in?

- You want the routine? - Yup.

It was just an act she was going to crack Vegas with, that's all.

- You really want to hear it? - That's right.

Sure, sure.

It'll be a pleasure, gentlemen.

Picture this geisha house setting,

and the curtain slowly going up

on this guy cracking a real brick in half with his bare hands.

- Just like that. - Karate?

Yeah, that's what they call it.

This guy could bust anything in half with the palm of his hand.

You saw him break a brick in half?

I never laid eyes on him. Sugar filled me in on the whole routine.

- What's his name? - You got me.

I don't know where he lives or hangs out.

- How come? - Well, they never ran

through the routine here. Only in her apartment.

- Did she always make the deals? - Never before.

That's what's so screwy about this.

But she did let you in on the routine?

That, she couldn't hold back, because it was such a great idea.

- Well, let's get back to the act. - Sure.

Just use your imagination now.

This... this gorgeous geisha makes her entrance in a crimson kimono,

the same one she posed in for that painting.

It's Sugar Torch, but a brand new Sugar.

Not an inch of flesh exposed, only her face.

She begins dancing to Japanese music,

and then she starts a real slow peel with this karate brick-smasher watching her.

Suddenly, her jealous boyfriend barges in,

a samurai warrior with a sword.

- Hidaka, she called him. - Willy Hidaka?

Yeah, yeah. You know him?

You're doing fine, Mr. Casale. Go on.

Well... well, the two guys begin battling over her,

bare hands versus sword.

The brick-crusher kills Hidaka with one blow, turns to collect Sugar,

but she tosses herself on the dead warrior and begins to bawl.

The brick-crusher blows his top, kills her and exits

as the curtain slowly comes down on the two dead lovers.

Sort of a Romeo and Juliet touch.

How do you like that for a striptease act?

Sergeant Bancroft.

- Mr. Casale, where can I find this Chris? - Who?

Chris, the artist who made this painting of Sugar?

- Never heard of him. - Where'd she have it made?

Who knows? Maybe McAllister knows.

Mac? I'll have a talk with her.

You got enough loot on you to play Santa Claus?

I'll manage.

It's more than just strength in this karate business, Willy.

It's a combination of coordination and concentration.

Let me try it.

- How you doing, champ? - Hi, Joe.

What are you trying to prove?

I have to qualify for something, Joe. I even goofed at kendo.

You can fill in for me. I don't think Charlie and I can make it this time.

- You kidding? You guys can't back out now. - We're on a case.

- Dough was spent advertising that contest. - That's right, Joe.

You guys haven't missed a match in five years.

Anyway, my money says that Charlie is going to pound you into a fish cake

this year.

Willy Hidaka, the samurai warrior.

Now you got it made, boy.

Hey, how'd you find out about that?

You didn't tell those jokers down at the pool hall about it, did you?

I figured you had a reason for playing it close to the vest.

How'd you land the job?

- You want to get in the act, too? - Could be.

You won't believe this, Joe,

but one day I get a call from a girl asking me up to her apartment.

Sugar Torch, the stripper.

How come she called you?

She said a friend of hers spotted me in Little Tokyo

and recommended me for the part, because I'm built like a samurai.

Who was the talent scout?

Never got a chance to meet him.

Joe, if my father knew I was going to work with a stripper,

he'd chop me like a ripe banana.

Me, Hidaka, doing an act with Sugar Torch.

Have an apple. There's not going to be any act.

She didn't replace me with another guy, did she?

Somebody shot her dead.

That poor little muffin.

- Hello, Mac. - Charles, dear boy. Have a beer.

Rumor has reached Skid Row

that Sugar Torch went out in a blaze of glory.

In front of a free audience. Whom are you hunting, Charles?

How did you like that kimono painting of her?

A work filled with total youthful vibration.

Countless little strokes of pure crimson, rather than mixing colors on the palette.

- You like Chris' work? - It shows promise.

Well, where can I find this promising Rembrandt?

Nude Ascending Celestial Bodies.

Where can I find Chris, the artist who painted her in that kimono?

- What painting? - Who was the karate hired for the act?

Shuto. He's a Korean. He once killed a bull with one blow.

Do you know where he lives?

No. He's new in town and doesn't speak a word of English.

- How's his Japanese? - Almost as bad as mine.

Aha! You think the jealous artist turned on his model?

Could be.

I think I see the bulge of a fragile friend

in your pocket, dear boy.

Bourbon.

It's Latin, Charles, and it means, "Put up or shut up."

- I love you, Charles. - You're a pearl, Mac.

Love does much, but bourbon does everything.

Now, where's this Chris?

Dear boy, I shall have to get blotto to remember.

Homicide. Bancroft.

McAllister reporting, front and center.

- Who? - There's nothing like 100-proof heaven

to make the mind clear and the...

And the memory sharp.

Thanks, Mac.

I do love you.

Yeah, I love you, too.

Room service.

610. Coffee tout de suite.

- Good morning, Sergeant. - Good morning, Nat.

That striptease murder is all over the paper.

Sausage?

It gave me a heartburn last time.

Say, I saw that Sugar Torch. It's too bad.

Hey, hey. Sausages?

- Two on a raft. - Two on a raft.

Poached eggs, juice, the works. Double it. Got that, Nat?

Righto, Sergeant.

Room service? Hey, who's paying for this?

- Is this on the house? - We're living it up this morning, Joe.

Living it up? You got rocks in your head or something?

What did you do, inherit a lot of loot?

No. Mac came through with a lead.

Great. Great. The bourbon paid out.

Let's have it.

Well, that painter, Chris.

He's at the University of Southern California.

Well, I'll see what I can draw up on Shuto.

Hey, take it easy, will you? Come on.

We'll have this thing wrapped up before Sunday, anyway.

What's Sunday got to do with it?

That's action day for you and that babe from Gardena.

- What? - That babe from Gardena. Remember?

Holy smoke, I forgot.

I'll have to tap her for a rain-check.

Don't be a meathead, Joe.

You've got that day off coming to you.

I'll get Ed Jokish to fill in for you.

- You'll what? - I'll get Ed Jokish to fill in for you.

Listen, Charlie, I'm hanging on 'till we wrap it up.

Sister Gertrude.

Well, Charlie,

that puts us both in business.

- I think I know where Shuto is. - Joe, will you take it easy?

- Nobody cares who killed that tramp. - Well, I do.

Will you quit pushing so hard, Joe?

You've got half that handbook memorized already.

You can say that again.

You'll make sergeant without busting a date

over a burlesque queen. Anyway, the grapevine has it that

that Gardena beauty's planning to have you meet her family.

That's another reason why I want a bypass.

She's a Kibei, you know. Born here, but raised in Japan.

So?

So? So we never agree on anything.

All we do is get into beefs about the old country.

- Are you kidding? - Pretty corny?

Man, you're really slipping

if that's all you beef about with that babe.

Listen, Don Juan,

you tackle Rembrandt at the school,

and I'll shortstop Shuto.

You knucklehead.

Yes? Did you want me for something?

Well, I'd like to take that matter up with you another time.

I asked for the artist who made this painting.

It reproduced surprisingly well, didn't it?

You're Chris?

- Christine? - Christine Downs.

Are you interested in sitting for me?